Pressure relief valve with pressure indicating means
First Claim
1. A pressure relief valve apparatus operatively attached to a high pressure cylinder for providing an indication of the pressure within the cylinder, said apparatus comprising in combination:
- a. impedance means disposed within the pressure relief valve for providing an impedance representative of the pressure within the cylinder, said impedance means comprising a capacitor and including a flexible disc flexibly responsive to the pressure within the cylinder, said disc being electrically coupled as a positionable plate of said capacitor, said disc being rupturable in the event of a pressure rise within the cylinder above a predetermined value;
(b) an end plate disposed in proximity to said disc in fixed relationship thereto, said end plate being electrically coupled as a fixed plate of said capacitor; and
(c) means for sensing the impedance and providing an indication reflective of the pressure within the cylinder;
whereby, movement of said disc relative to said end plate varies the impedance of said capacitor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An adjustably positionable element having a curved end plate is located in proximity to the conventional rupturable curved disc in a pressure relief valve for high pressure cylinders. The end plate serves as one plate of a capacitor and the curved disc serves as the other plate. Impedance variation responsive circuitry senses any change in impedance of the capacitor due to a change in flex of the curved disc brought about by a variation in pressure within the cylinder to which the relief valve is attached. The change in impedance is calibrated to provide an indication of the actual pressure within the cylinder.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A pressure relief valve apparatus operatively attached to a high pressure cylinder for providing an indication of the pressure within the cylinder, said apparatus comprising in combination:
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a. impedance means disposed within the pressure relief valve for providing an impedance representative of the pressure within the cylinder, said impedance means comprising a capacitor and including a flexible disc flexibly responsive to the pressure within the cylinder, said disc being electrically coupled as a positionable plate of said capacitor, said disc being rupturable in the event of a pressure rise within the cylinder above a predetermined value; (b) an end plate disposed in proximity to said disc in fixed relationship thereto, said end plate being electrically coupled as a fixed plate of said capacitor; and (c) means for sensing the impedance and providing an indication reflective of the pressure within the cylinder; whereby, movement of said disc relative to said end plate varies the impedance of said capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A pressure relief valve for high pressure cylinders, said pressure relief valve comprising in combination:
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a. a disc for flexibly responding to the pressure within the cylinder, said disc being rupturable in the event of a pressure rise within said cylinder above a predetermined value; b. an end plate disposed in proximity to said disc; and c. means for supporting said end plate and electrically insulating said end plate from said disc; whereby, said disc and said end plate are electrically connectable as the plates of a capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification